Media Studies OCR Exam Blog - Kate Ovington

EQUILIBRIUM THEORY APPLICATION: The video tells the story of an inspector visiting a village, appearing a pastoral idyll, only to reveal the darkness that lies under the surface. The status quo, or what Todorov would term 'equilibrium', is established through a colourful mise-en-scene with close-ups of flowers, multi-coloured houses, trees and people. This is almost a visual of the Inspector's expectations of what he is coming to visit. The disruption, or initiating incident is revealed through  parallel  imagery, unfolding only once the Inspector actually arrives. The man once painting a postbox (British symbolism) is now painting a red X on a 'traitor's' door. The flowers on the pole are revealed to actually be on a noose. these, once close-up shots are now long/mid-shots, revealing darkness through the inspector's perspective. As the narrative builds towards the climax, more sinister elements are revealed through the use of changing time. The morning ...

ALBUM COVER: THE VIDEO: VIDEO LINK LYRICS: Stay in the shadows Cheer at the gallows This is a round up This is a low flying panic attack Sing a song on the jukebox that goes Burn the witch Burn the witch We know where you live Red crosses on wooden doors And if you float you burn Loose talk around tables Abandon all reason Avoid all eye contact Do not react Shoot the messengers This is a low flying panic attack Sing the song of sixpence that goes Burn the witch Burn the witch We know where you live We know where you live

SOCIAL + HISTORICAL CONTEXT: // Burn the Witch comes from Radiohead's 9th studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool.  It is the lead single on the album, i.e. it was released to coincide with the album: if you like the song, you will love the album. // It was released as a download on the 3rd of may 2016 on Radiohead's website, followed by 7-inch single released exclusively in independent record stores.  // Critics interpreted the lyrics and video as a warning against group-think and authoritarianism. // It was named one of the best songs of the year by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and the Village Voice,  and was nominated for best rock song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. It was one of the bestselling UK vinyl singles of 2016. // The lyrics direct the listeners to "Abandon all reason/avoid all eye contact/do not react/shoot the messengers/burn the witch". Yorke said the lyrics were inspired by the News of the World newspaper publishing the names and addresses of sex offen...

THE JOB THAT MUSIC VIDEOS DO - THEIR PURPOSE: //Describe the star image or brand constructed for the artist. Include relevant info about the artist and their genre. //How does this video engage and entertain it's audience? //Does it explore big ideas and comment on society? //Who is it's core audience and how does it target them? //What elements of this video would encourage an audience to share and like it? THE METHODS - THE WAY THEY USE CODES + CONVENTIONS: //What is distinctive about the performance?   -1- Describe the camera angles, shots + movement used   -2- Describe the editing - changes in pace, cuts, transitions   -3- describe the MES - setting, costume, lighting etc. //How are close ups and other elements used to build the star image throughout the video? //How is MES used throughout the video to create style, branding and representation of people, places and ideas? //How do the music and lyrics work with the visuals - how does the...

ALBUM COVER: VIDEO: VIDEO LINK LYRICS: Will you recognize me In those flashing lights? I try to keep my heart beat But I can't get it right Will you recognize me When I'm lying on my back? Somethings gone inside me And I can't get it back Oh heaven, oh heaven I wake with good intentions But the day, it always lasts too long Then I'm gone Oh heaven, oh heaven I wake with good intentions But the day, it always lasts too long Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Then I'm gone Will you recognize me When I'm stealing from a car You're not gonna like me I'm nothing like before Will you recognize me When I lose another friend Will you learn to leave me Or give me one more try again Oh heaven, oh heaven I wake with good intentions But the day, it always lasts too long Then I'm gone Oh heaven, oh heaven I wake wi...

SOCIAL + CULTURAL CONTEXT: // In 2009, Sande featured on rapper Chipmunk's debut single, 'Diamond Rings' which gave them a first top 10 hit on the UK singles chart.  // In 2010, she appeared again on Wiley's 'Never be your Woman' which became another top 10 hit, and on 'Let Go', which was the closing track of Tinie Tempah's debut album. she also co-penned Alesha Dixon's single 'Radio'. // In 2010, she signed her first major record deal with Virgin Records before signing another deal with EMI in 2011. // Heaven was her first solo track - the key purpose of this video is to introduce her as her own entity, to take her out of the shadow of other artists she had collaborated with in the past. SOCIAL + HISTORICAL CONTEXT: // As the main purpose was to establish her as a solo artist, a performance-based music video was essential to build her star image.  // The video was uploaded to Sande's YouTube channel as a first platform - 21.7...

For Paper 1, Section B, you will be asked about two of the three areas you have studied in relation to MEDIA LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATIONS. // Advertising // Magazines // Music Videos One will be a 10 MARK question which will ask you to explain the impact of an element of the media frameworks on the selected text. The other will be a 15 MARK question which will ask you to do similar for either of the other two products, but will ask you to come to a conclusion at the end.